Nations Championship: Preview, form guide and kick off times

Since the conclusion of the first leg of the Nations Championship, the Springboks and New Zealand have contested the high-profile Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, Australia have continued their upward trajectory with several notable results, and both Japan and Fiji have added valuable match exposure before heading north.

By contrast, the Six Nations sides have not played since July, and so it will add a different dynamic to proceedings as the November Tests get underway.

NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO SWING BACK INTO ACTION

Friday, 6 November

• 22:10 – Ireland vs Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Argentina arrive in Dublin desperately needing momentum. The Pumas were competitive throughout the Southern Series, defeating Wales while pushing both Scotland and England close. Since then, however, they have endured a mixed southern spring, losing narrowly to South Africa, losing to Australia in Jujuy and then drawing the return match in Mendoza. Those results underlined Argentina’s competitiveness but also their difficulty in converting performances into victories.

Compounding matters is the loss of Santiago Carreras, who is ruled out for the remainder of the season. The versatile back finished as one of Argentina’s most influential figures during the year and his absence leaves a considerable hole in the Pumas’ attacking structure. Ireland won two of their three Southern Series matches before running into an inspired New Zealand side. They will hope home advantage can offset Argentina’s greater recent Test exposure.

Saturday, 7 November

• 13:40 – Italy vs South Africa, Estadio Camilo Cano, La Nucia

Few teams arrive in the Northern Series in better shape than South Africa. The Springboks were flawless during the Southern Series, overcoming England, Scotland and Wales, and they have strengthened their claim to be the tournament favourites since then.

After edging Argentina in Buenos Aires, South Africa recovered from losing the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to win the final three matches against New Zealand, securing the series 3-1.

There was one reminder of their fallibility, a thrilling 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth, but overall Rassie Erasmus’ side have emerged from the southern spring with their status enhanced. Italy, meanwhile, lost all three Southern Series fixtures and now face arguably the toughest assignment of the weekend.

• 16:10 – Scotland vs New Zealand, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

One of the marquee fixtures of the opening weekend pits two teams with genuine ambitions of reaching the Nations Championship Grand Final.

New Zealand completed a perfect Southern Series campaign, defeating France, Italy and Ireland, before embarking on their landmark four-Test tour of South Africa. Although they ultimately lost that series 3-1, the All Blacks subsequently responded by recording successive Bledisloe Cup victories over Australia, winning 50-19 in Auckland and 43-21 in Sydney.

Those results make the All Blacks a particularly daunting proposition despite their recent setbacks against the Springboks.

Scotland enjoyed a strong July, defeating both Argentina and Fiji before falling to South Africa. The challenge for Gregor Townsend’s side is whether they can immediately rediscover that form against the All Blacks on opening weekend.

• 18:40 – Wales vs Japan, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Both teams enter Cardiff believing this is a realistic opportunity to collect valuable tournament points.

Japan opened the Nations Championship with a memorable victory over Italy, though defeats to Ireland and France followed. Since then, Eddie Jones’ side have beaten Canada 57-12 but also suffered defeats to Australia and, most recently, Fiji in Tokyo.

For Wales, a positive start feels essential after losses to Argentina and South Africa during the Southern Series. Cardiff will expect a response from a side eager to build momentum before tougher challenges later in the month. Encouragingly for the hosts, they came out on top by a single point when they faced Japan a year ago in Cardiff.

• 22:10 – France vs Fiji, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon

At first glance, this looks like one of the most straightforward fixtures of the weekend.

France recovered from a narrow defeat to New Zealand in July to beat both Australia and Japan, finishing the Southern Series in excellent shape and reinforcing their status as leading northern contenders.

Yet Fiji arrive with more confidence than their Nations Championship record might suggest. The Flying Fijians lost all three matches during July but ended their southern spring preparations with a 34-28 victory over Japan in Tokyo. That result provided a timely reminder of the quality within Fiji’s backline and their ability to trouble established opponents.

France remain heavy favourites, but Fiji appear a more dangerous opponent than their standings position indicates.

Sunday, 8 November

• 17:10 – England vs Australia, Twickenham, London

The final match of the round may also be one of the hardest to call.

Australia finished the Southern Series with only one victory, but their subsequent results suggest a team that has continued to evolve. The Wallabies claimed victories over Japan, won away in Argentina, drew the return fixture and then produced perhaps the southern spring’s biggest upset by defeating South Africa 42-38 in Perth.

While heavy defeats to New Zealand exposed areas for improvement, those losses came against a side that remains among the world’s best. On balance, Les Kiss’s team arrive in London with considerably stronger form than their July record alone would suggest.

England enter the fixture after bouncing back from a convincing defeat to the Springboks by putting Fiji and Argentina to the sword, and would like nothing more than to continue that form against the Wallabies.

HOW THE CURRENT LOGS LOOK

Southern Hemisphere Table

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

+/-

Pts

1

South Africa

3

3

0

0

+81

15

2New Zealand3300+51153Australia3102+2984Argentina3102-275Japan3102-2646Fiji3003-960

Northern Hemisphere Table

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

+/-

Pts

1France3201+41122Scotland3201+11113England3201+48104Ireland3201-1105Wales3102-4256Italy3003-940